By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria has called for stronger international collaboration in the maritime sector to promote safer shipping, improve operational efficiency and accelerate the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the call while representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event in Busan, Republic of Korea.
Mobereola urged participating countries to translate discussions and engagements at the global maritime gathering into practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable benefits to their maritime industries.
He identified stronger maritime regulation, professional capacity development and improved industry competitiveness as key areas requiring sustained international cooperation.
According to him, Nigeria intends to leverage the event to strengthen its regulatory performance, expand opportunities for Nigerian maritime professionals and improve the country’s position in the global shipping industry.
The NIMASA chief said international cooperation remained critical to addressing emerging challenges in global shipping, encouraging innovation and building a maritime industry that is safe, efficient and environmentally responsible.
He added that Nigeria’s participation was aligned with the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda, which seeks to harness the sector’s potential for national development.
Mobereola is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the event, which brings together maritime leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to discuss developments affecting global shipping and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The gathering also provides a platform for participating countries to exchange expertise, explore technological solutions and strengthen relationships across the international maritime community.
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On the sidelines of the event, Mobereola met with Kitack Lim, former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where he expressed appreciation for Lim’s contributions to the global maritime sector during his tenure at the United Nations specialised agency.
The engagement highlighted the importance of continued dialogue among maritime leaders in advancing shared industry objectives and supporting the development of the global maritime community.
Nigeria’s participation in the event underscores the government’s efforts to deepen international maritime relations, build professional capacity and establish strategic partnerships to unlock opportunities in the marine and blue economy.
